SAN JOSE — Defenseman Paul Martin played in his 100th NHL playoff game with Thursday’s Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against the St. Louis Blues, giving the Sharks three players who have reached the milestone with a few more on the way.

Thursday’s game marked Joe Pavelski’s 96th playoff game, Dainius Zubrus’ 98th and Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s 99th. The totals for Pavelski and Vlasic, who both came into the NHL in the 2006-07 season, have all come with the Sharks.

It gives the Sharks have a decided edge in playoff experience, as the most seasoned Blues player in the postseason is Troy Brouwer, who played his 95th playoff game Thursday

“I feel we have a battle-tested group and I think Paul Martin is one of those guys,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “He’s been in the playoffs, deep in the playoffs, seen almost every situation there is in the playoffs.

“We have quite a few of those type of guys. I think that gives us a composure that maybe some other teams don’t have.”

Martin, 34, is making his second appearance in a conference final in 12 playoff seasons. He was with Pittsburgh in 2013 when the Penguins made it to the final four before they were swept by the Boston Bruins in four games.

“I’ve been fortunate to be on a lot of good hockey teams and play with a lot of great players, so I’m lucky that way,” Martin said Thursday. “Playoffs are fun; it’s a good time of year. You’re anxious, you’re excited, it’s just fun hockey. To be able to play in those games is why we put on the gear. Obviously, it would be nice to continue winning and add a trophy to the case. That would be great, that’s the ultimate goal.”

Martin’s first playoff game came in 2004 when he was a rookie with the New Jersey Devils, who were facing the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.

He was paired with Scott Niedermayer in that game, but also spent time as a defensive partner to Brian Rafalski.

“I was in good hands,” Martin said.

Martin had 25 minutes and 30 seconds of ice time in that first game, showing that he earned the trust of then-coach Pat Burns. Martin remembers one instance, though, where he jumped up the ice when he probably shouldn’t have and Burns “came down and gave me a good holler.